Safety While Walking With Your Dog

While a lot of parks and public areas call for dogs be on a leash, some do not. Specifically dog parks let canines to be off-leash which is what makes them so well-liked for many dog owners. Unfortunately, not all canines are equally welcoming to all other canines. Owners should keep an eye on their dogs while at the dog park to assure there are no issues.
Listed below are some dog safely guidelines that I hope can keep you and your dog safe while walking and playing outdoors.
Buy a safe and comfortable dog collar for your pet. Make sure it fits snug enough to stop your dog from slipping from the collar, but not too tight to be constricting. There are many types of collars to choose from:, leather, nylon, fabric, rope, custom, studded, embroidered, jeweled and many, many more.
Make sure your dog has an engraved dog tag with name and phone number at the very least. You can add the address if desired. You may also want to implant your dog with a micro chip which can be used to identify your dog if lost.
While walking your dog on a leash, you may encounter various owners who take a walk with their dogs off-leash. Constantly use caution when encountering other dogs, whether on or off-leash.
Protect your dog from sprains and injury while at play. Accidents do happen, take care to monitor your pet and keep them from rough play with other canines, or even with you the owner. Prevent them from harm from holes, tree limbs, and other obstacles which can cause sprains, pulls, sore muscles, scratches, cuts and lacerations.
Be on the lookout for things which might be toxic to your dog. Mushrooms can be poisonous and ought to be avoided. I once had my dog throw up what looked like a mushroom, I didn't give it much thought at the time. An hour later she was stumbling, foaming at the mouth, hyperventilating and not able to stand. Thankfully I was able to get her to the vet and clean out the poisons that saved her life. Most parks use fertilizers on their grass that may be harmful to your dog if eaten. Some homeowners put out snail bait or use pesticides in their gardens. These chemical substances may be dangerous and even lethal if ingested by the dog. If you find your dog has eaten any of these products, visit your vet immediately.
Parks, seashores, trails, and other outside regions can contain fleas and ticks. Constantly use flea and tick prevention products on the pets.
Prevent your dog from urinating on your neighbor's or public property. Pick up after your dog. Always take along a dog poop bag to clean up the mess. For an easy and cool way to hold your dog's poop bag, check out the Dog BagDana, a dog bandana which has a pocket for a dog poop bag.
In the hot summer time months watch out for overheating. Always bring a lot of water for the pet, especially on lengthy walks in the heat of the day. Signs and symptoms of overheating include panting excessively, sluggishness and vomiting. If the dog shows any of these signs, see a veterinarian immediately.
Use common sense once outside the home and your pet will thank you.